Michael Wayne Godwin Quotes

Cyberspace never sits still; it evolves as fast as society itself. Only if we fight to preserve our freedom of speech on the Net will we ensure our ability to keep up with both the Net and society.

We’re at a point in history that whether the Internet is going to evolve in a way that’s compatible with democracy and human rights is really kind of up in the air.

The Internet allows me to be more free.

Let's keep the Internet weird. Let's keep the Internet free.

In Cyberspace, the First Amendment is a local ordinance.

We need to codify our values and build consensus around what we want from a free society and a free Internet. We need to put into law protections for our privacy and our right to speak and assemble.

We have to go see Bill Gates and a lot of different people that really understand what's happening. We have to talk to them, maybe in certain areas, closing that Internet up in some way. Somebody will say, 'Oh, freedom of speech, freedom of speech.' These are foolish people. We have a lot of foolish people.

The most important thing is, we really want to make sure the American people are able to get to any Web site they'd like to get to.

The thing I have come to find astonishing is that people from all political sides routinely say that the Internet has to be the model of free speech and freedom.

Allowing a handful of broadband carriers to determine what people see and do online would fundamentally undermine the features that have made the Internet such a success, and could permanently compromise the Internet as a platform for the free exchange of information, commerce, and ideas.

Even in democratic society, we don't have good answers how to balance the need for security on one hand and the protection of free speech on the other in our digital networks.

The Internet is uncontrollable. And if the Internet is uncontrollable, freedom will win. It’s as simple as that

For Americans, with the advent of the U.S. invention of the Internet, free speech is not just open dissemination of ideas and information. It includes limitless instant access to those ideas and the ability to choose and search from among virtually unlimited sources. It is also the backbone of free enterprise and a vibrant global economy.

The Internet is fundamentally free, and when faced with the decision to use something free, we, as humans, always seek to grab all we can.

One of the great debates about the Internet is whether it is making people more or less free.

I support a free and open Internet.

I do not want to give the state and the authorities the right to ban things on the Internet - no ifs.

What I love about the Internet and what I try to do on the issues is insist upon the ability to have bad taste if one wants.

It is absolutely clear to me that we have to keep the internet open

Freedom of connection with any application to any party is the fundamental social basis of the internet. And now, is the basis of the society built on the internet.

Censorship is a really big deal, but online you don't have anything. You have slightly more freedom.

The Internet should be an open platform where you are free to go where you want and say and do what you want without having to ask anyone's permission.

The virtual world is a 'public square' much more vast than Tiananmen Square. And you can't send in the tanks to crush the netizens.

Information technology is a formidable enabler of freedoms. For example, it lowers barriers to freedom of expression and allows people to get a better grasp of their lives. It should not be used to reduce the freedom of people.

The Internet is a free and open platform. Everyone has the right to speak. However, compliance with the law is the bottom line that no one should violate.